Thailand Day 4 — Arrival in Krabi
Wednesday Oct 15th, Day 4 – Travel to Krabi
Tourism accounts for 6% of Thailand’s economy primarily from Chinese tourists. The Westerners who do visit are likely to go to Bangkok, Phuket, or perhaps Pattaya. We are fortunate enough to have a personal tour guide to steer us clear of the tourist zones and see the real Thailand. We’re seeing and doing things I doubt we’d experience thru any tour company.
Today we are flying from Bangkok to Krabi which is on the southern tip of Thailand along the Andaman Sea. Joe’s sister thinks Krabi has the widest variety of activities to enjoy. You’ll never get bored here. Krabi is pronounced “GRABEE” by the locals and its population is 52,867. Interestingly enough, most of these towns are so spread out, over a province/region, it doesn’t feel densely populated. The exception of course is Bangkok…it does have a very big city feel to it. There are 150 species of snakes here and cobras are very common in Krabi.
We traveled to Krabi located at the southern tip of Thailand for a week-long stay
Our flight to Krabi is an hour and 20 minutes. We are staying at Ban To Guesthouse which has more of a bed and breakfast feel than an actual hotel. Best of all, its only 500 baht per night (roughly $17). As I said before, if you can manage the 24-hour flight and the airfare being a little over a $1,000, everything else is dirt cheap once you get here. Since our 2008 trip, the Ban To Guesthouse has closed which is unfortunate since we really enjoyed our stay here. Very personal service by the staff.
We stayed at the Ban To Guesthouse while in Krabi
There are only 9 people (including the 4 of us) that are staying in this hotel. We were picked up by the hotel owner in a van at the airport personally! Even though the owner hasn’t seen Becky for 2 years, she immediately recognized her. While these are not traditional hotels, the rooms are comfortable with air conditioning and TV. The lobby area, restaurant and internet computer are located in one spacious room….again it is open-air style (open to the outside air).
Enjoying the fresh fruit smoothies in the Guesthouse restaurant
It has not rained at all since we’ve been here but today we are experiencing our first downpour. And when they happen, they are HEAVY. It lasted about 50 minutes.
The restaurant’s menu is in English so that’s helpful. You order whatever food and drink you want and at the end of your stay, you pay all at once. Yes, its similar to an all-inclusive except you pay at the end instead of upfront (no need to bring cash downstairs). There is a downstairs cooler with drinks that you can help yourself at anytime. They have fabulous fresh fruit shakes (like a juice smoothie) they’ll whip up in the blender. The food is so fresh and delicious.
Becky and Erik went into town to have pizza for supper. They were so impressed they found an Italian joint with real mozzarella cheese. Joe and I are fine to skip that. We can have that anytime back home.
The food is so fresh and tasty!
Thai’s make wonderful soups but be sure to tell them how spicy you don’t or do like it up front!
It was a quiet day — we mainly just used it to travel and rest up. Tomorrow we go sea kayaking in the morning where the wild monkeys swim out to your kayak. In the afternoon, we are going to the elephant camp to ride elephants.
Misc Notes:
Discrimination is still very much alive in this part of the world; specifically dark skin. Dark skin means you are poor and work in the hot sun and that is where discrimination comes into play for the Thai’s. We watched a daily ritual where the children who lived at the Ban To Guesthouse would get white powder put on their skin to lighten it. All the Thai’s do this. While we are trying to get a nice suntan, they are trying to diminish the sun’s effect.
A daily ritual is the skin lightening powder for the kids before bed
Thailand is not for everyone. Yes its hot! 90-95 degrees during the cool season (which is now). Plus add on 90-100% humidity and that takes the heat to a whole other level. I haven’t noticed much of a breeze either. Thai’s typically take 2-3 showers per day for hygiene but also to cool their bodies down. You’ll see Thai’s wearing pants and long sleeve shirts and not sweating. I can’t understand how they do it.
In Phanat Nikhom, I have been wearing sleeves so as not to embarrass Becky (showing skin and going sleeveless doesn’t give the best impression). In Krabi where it has more Western tourists, I’ll be able to get away with wearing more tank tops. As far as packing tips: light colored T shirts and quick drying shorts, light rain jacket, swim suits (modest! Must be one piece) and a pair of capris/slacks for any temples we may go visit.
These crunchy little items were put out on the hotel restaurant table as a sweet snack cracker
Prior to our arrival, we had to make a copy of our passport, scan it to the computer and sent it to Becky in an email (as a backup if it should get lost). Bring a small backpack that you can throw in the motorbike basket or on your back for when we just hit the roads for a day trip (to carry a change of shorts, mosquito spray, camera, water and sun lotion).
Its not a glamour trip either. Your plug-in devices won’t work here — so no styling or drying your hair (although it dries rather quickly in the heat). Forget about putting on make-up as it runs right off. I do attempt eye make-up although I’m not sure how long it lasts. Becky would like to move to another country just because they would like to enjoy more outdoor activities which are difficult to manage in the heat. Only one pair of shoes is needed for this trip – Teva sandals (must be the Velcro kind that can get wet). Tennis shoes are way too hot and heavy.
And no toilet paper in the toilets. Thai pipes and their sewer system can’t handle it because they are too narrow. All toilet paper goes in the wastebasket or the toilet would be hopelessly clogged for days. Some places don’t even have a flushing toilet. Instead, there is a big water basin next to the toilet. You dip a bowlful of water from the basin and use that to flush the toilet. And then finally, some places just have squatters which is just a hole in the ground. But we actually encountered more squatters when we were in Japan than in Thailand.
Haircut time at the Guesthouse as his brother looks on in amusement
While he gets a haircut, he also wears the skin lightening powder
There are a variety of activities from kayaking, white water rafting, or an island snorkeling boat trip. But what we found out later is get to know the locals and have them arrange tours with their friends. Also the best trips are when we just rode around on motorbikes and discovered places on our own. The area has an abundance of trails and national parks.
Everyone knows the famous musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein “The King and I” about an English school teacher who tutors the Thai King. But did you know the movie is banned in Thailand? There are several reasons why. One being it’s not historically accurate. They portray the king in a manner that is disrespectful to show he is less than civilized. However the real King Mongkut who the musical was based on was actually an academic older gentleman well versed in Latin and other European languages. He certainly did not parade around baring his chest like a sex symbol.
It does not matter what version of the movie we are talking about – whether that’s the 1951 version or the remake with Jodi Foster called “Anna and the King”. Both versions are said to be inaccurate and insulting to the King and Thailand and therefore, are banned.
Likewise, there are many journalists and authors who are now banned in Thailand and have even been detained for their criticism against the monarchy. You never disrespect the King. I’m not sure its quite the same thing as being critical of the government vs criticizing the monarchy. However, despite whatever is going on in the government, I’ll be taking a very brief, objective point of view so I don’t end up on that list.
Costs/Expenses:
Hotel rooms @ 500 baht per night = roughly $17 US dollars
Motorbikes are 200 baht a day = $6.75
Meals cost about 50-150 baht a day = $1.70 – $5 bucks
Beers cost 35-100 baht = $1.18 – $3.39
Organized tours run about 500-1000 baht = $17 – $35
Helpful Phrases to Learn/Use
Hello = Sa wa dee Kawp / Sa wa dee Ka (female and masculine variations)
**Men add Kawp at the end of the sentence. Women add Ka to the end.
Please = No such word here
Thank you = Kawp Kuun Kawp / Kawp Kuun Ka
Pardon me / Excuse me = no such word
Sorry = Car tot
HOT or Spicy = Pet
**Thai food is traditionally very spicy! I used this phrase all the time: My Pet (it means, no spice)
Yes = Chai
No = My
Don’t Want = My Ow
Don’t Know = My Lew
Don’t Have = My Mi
Don’t Like – My Chop
No Good = My Dee
Can’t = My Die
Where = Tee Nye
What is it = A Knee A Lie
How much = A Knee Tao Lie
What’s your nickname = Khun Chew Len A Lie
My name is Joe = Phom Chew Joe Kawp
